Bank of Japan Signals Rate Flexibility Amid Yen Volatility 
WTO Ministerial Collapse Leaves Global Digital Trade Rules in Limbo 
U.S. Stock Futures Drop as Iran War Escalates, Oil Surges Past $115 
Asian Stocks Drop Amid Iran War Fears and BOJ Rate Hike Signals 
RBC Capital: European Medtech Firms Show Minimal Middle East and Energy Risk Exposure 
Bessent: Global Oil Market Well Supplied as U.S. Eyes Hormuz Navigation Control 
Asian Stocks Mixed in March 2026 Amid Iran War Fears and Tech Selloff 
Oil Prices Surge to Record Monthly Highs as Middle East War Rattles Global Markets 
Iran Strikes Oil Tanker Near Dubai Amid U.S. Threats and Ongoing Middle East Conflict 
South Korea March Exports Expected to Surge to Near Five-Year High Amid AI-Driven Chip Demand 
Dollar Surges to Nine-Month High as Middle East Tensions Drive Safe-Haven Demand 
WTO Digital Trade Moratorium Expires Amid Stalled Negotiations 
U.S. Treasury Eyes Private Credit Oversight Through Insurance Regulator Talks 
China Manufacturing PMI Hits 12-Month High Amid Energy Price Concerns 
Asian Currencies Hold Steady Amid U.S.-Israel-Iran Tensions and BOJ Signals 
Gold Prices Inch Higher Amid U.S.-Iran War Tensions and Technical Rebound 
Australia Bans Card Payment Surcharges Starting October 2025 
European stock markets traded higher on Wednesday as investors anticipated more corporate earnings. Germany’s DAX climbed 0.7%, while the UK’s FTSE 100 and France’s CAC 40 gained 0.2% each.
Global debt surged by $7 trillion in 2024, hitting a record $318 trillion, according to the Institute of International Finance (IIF). The global debt-to-GDP ratio jumped to 330%, marking the first annual increase since the pandemic. The IIF expects debt growth to slow in early 2025 due to high borrowing costs.
Stellantis (NYSE: STLA) reported a sharp 70% drop in net profit for 2024, plunging to €5.5 billion from €18.6 billion in 2023. The automaker, which owns brands like Jeep, Dodge, and Peugeot (OTC: PUGOY), is implementing cost-cutting measures to improve profitability.
Meanwhile, Deutsche Telekom (OTC: DTEGY) exceeded its 2024 financial targets, reporting a 3.4% rise in revenue to €115.8 billion and a 6.2% jump in adjusted EBITDA AL to €43 billion. Free cash flow AL soared 18.7% to €19.2 billion, while adjusted net profit increased 18.3% to €9.4 billion. The company forecasts continued growth in 2025, with adjusted EBITDA AL expected to reach €44.9 billion (+4.5%) and free cash flow AL to rise 4% to €19.9 billion.
Anheuser-Busch InBev (EBR: ABI) posted record revenue despite volume declines in China and Argentina. Revenue rose 2.7% to $59.77 billion, driven by a 4.3% increase in revenue per hectoliter, while normalized EBITDA climbed 8.2% to $20.96 billion.
Crude oil prices rebounded from two-month lows after U.S. stockpile declines. Brent crude rose 0.3% to $72.69 per barrel, while WTI crude increased 0.3% to $69.14.
